Methods and apparatus for controlling wireless network operations associated with a flow control process

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling wireless network operations associated with a flow control process which terminates data communications to a mobile station based on an out-of-coverage condition between the mobile station and a wireless communication network. In the wireless communication network, an indication is identified which indicates whether a mobile station utilizes an always-on connection for a data service. Based on the indication indicating that the mobile station utilizes the always-on connection, the flow control process is bypassed. Otherwise, the flow control process is performed. The always-on connection may be utilized for an e-mail application for the mobile station and involve a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session.

1. A method of controlling wireless network operations associated with a flow control process of a wireless communication network, the flow control process being operative to stop a flow of data packets being communicated to a mobile station over a data connection without terminating the data connection based on detection of an out-of-coverage condition between the mobile station and the wireless communication network, the method comprising the acts of:
 identifying, by a network processor, an indication which indicates whether the mobile station or an application thereof utilizes a data connection comprising an always-on connection for a data service provided via the wireless communication network; 
 causing, by the network processor, the flow control process to be bypassed for the mobile station based on the indication indicating that the mobile station or the application thereof utilizes the data connection comprising the always-on connection for the data service, for thereby disallowing the stoppage of the flow of data packets being communicated to the mobile station over the data connection based on detection of the out-of-coverage condition; and 
 otherwise allowing the flow control process to be performed for the mobile station based on the indication indicating that the mobile station or the application thereof fails to utilize the data connection comprising the always-on connection for the data service, for thereby allowing stoppage of the flow of data packets being communicated to the mobile station without termination of the data connection based on detection of the out-of-coverage condition. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data connection comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data connection is utilized for a data service comprising an e-mail communication service. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the act of identifying comprises receiving the indication based on data associated with the mobile station or the data service. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the act of identifying comprises receiving the indication from the mobile station through the wireless communication network. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the act of identifying comprises receiving the indication from the mobile station through the wireless communication network in response to an input signal at a user interface of the mobile station. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the act of identifying the indication comprises identifying the always-on connection based on data associated with the data service. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the act of identifying the indication comprises identifying a relatively low data rate of the data service. 
 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the act of identifying the indication comprises identifying a predetermined Quality of Service (QoS) associated with the data service. 
 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the always-on connection comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session and the data service comprises an e-mail communication service which is utilized by the mobile station without use of PPP compression on the data. 
   
   
     11. A Radio Access Network (RAN) of a wireless communication network which is configured to control wireless network operations associated with a flow control process of the wireless communication network, the flow control process being operative to stop a flow of data packets being communicated to a mobile station over a data connection without terminating the data connection based on detection of an out-of-coverage condition between the mobile station and the wireless communication network, the RAN comprising:
 a Packet Control Function (PCF) which is adapted to communicate with a Packet Service Data Node (PDSN); 
 the PCF being operative to identify an indication which indicates whether the mobile station or an application thereof utilizes a data connection comprising an always-on connection for a data service provided via the wireless communication network; 
 the PCF being further operative to cause the flow control process to be bypassed for the mobile station based on the indication indicating that the mobile station or the application thereof utilizes the data connection comprising the always-on connection for the data service, for thereby disallowing stoppage of the flow of data packets being communicated to the mobile station based on detection of the out-of-coverage condition; and 
 the PCF being further operative to otherwise allow the flow control process to be performed for the mobile station in connection with the PDSN based on the indication indicating that the mobile station or the application thereof fails to utilize the data connection comprising the always-on connection for the data service, for thereby allowing stoppage of the flow of data rackets being communicated to the mobile station without termination of the data connection based on the detection of the out-of-coverage condition. 
 
   
   
     12. The RAN of  claim 11 , wherein the data connection comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session. 
   
   
     13. The RAN of  claim 11 , wherein the data connection is utilized for a data service comprising an e-mail communication service. 
   
   
     14. The RAN of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wherein the PCF is operative to identify the indication by identifying the indication based on data associated with the mobile station or the data service. 
 
   
   
     15. The RAN of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wherein the PDSN is operative to identify the indication by receiving it from the mobile station through the wireless communication network. 
 
   
   
     16. The RAN of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wherein the PDSN is operative to identify the indication by receiving it from the mobile station through the wireless communication network in response to an input signal at a user interface of the mobile station. 
 
   
   
     17. The RAN of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wherein the PCF is operative to identify the indication by identifying the always-on connection based on data associated with the data service. 
 
   
   
     18. The RAN of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wherein the PCF is operative to identify the indication by identifying a relatively low data rate of the data service. 
 
   
   
     19. The RAN of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wherein the PCF is operative to identify the indication by identifying a predetermined Quality of Service (QoS) associated with the data service. 
 
   
   
     20. The RAN of  claim 11 , wherein the always-on connection comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session and the data service comprises an e-mail communication service which is utilized by the mobile station without use of PPP compression on the data. 
   
   
     21. A Packet Service Data Node (PDSN) which is configured to communicate with a Packet Control Function (PCF) of a Radio Access Network (RAN) and to control wireless network operations associated with a flow control process of the wireless communication network, the flow control process being operative to stop a flow of data packets being communicated to a mobile station over a data connection without terminating the data connection based on detection of an out-of-coverage condition between the mobile station and a wireless communication network, the PDSN being operative to:
 identify an indication which indicates whether the mobile station or an application thereof utilizes a data connection comprising an always-on connection for a data service provided via the wireless communication network; 
 cause the flow control process to be bypassed for the mobile station based on the indication indicating that the mobile station or the application thereof utilizes the data connection comprising the always-on connection for the data service, for thereby disallowing stoppage of the flow of data packets being communicated to the mobile station based on detection of the out-of-coverage condition; and 
 otherwise allow the flow control process to be performed for the mobile station based on the indication indicating that the mobile station or the application thereof fails to utilize the data connection comprising the always-on connection for the data service, for thereby allowing stoppage of the flow of data packets being communicated to the mobile station without termination of the data connection based on the detection of the out-of-coverage condition. 
 
   
   
     22. The PDSN of  claim 21 , wherein the data connection comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session. 
   
   
     23. The PDSN of  claim 21 , being further configured to:
 prior to causing the flow control process to be performed or bypassed, receiving a request for the flow control process from the PCF. 
 
   
   
     24. The PDSN of  claim 21 , being further configured to:
 identify the indication by identifying the indication based on data associated with the mobile station or the data service. 
 
   
   
     25. The PDSN of  claim 21 , being further configured to:
 wherein the PDSN is operative to identify the indication by receiving it from the mobile station through the wireless communication network. 
 
   
   
     26. The PDSN of  claim 21 , being further configured to:
 identify the indication by receiving it from the mobile station through the wireless communication network in response to an input signal at a user interface of the mobile station. 
 
   
   
     27. The PDSN of  claim 21 , being further configured to:
 identify the indication by identifying the always-on connection based on data associated with the data service. 
 
   
   
     28. The PDSN of  claim 21 , being further configured to:
 identify the indication by identifying a relatively low data rate of the data service. 
 
   
   
     29. The PDSN of  claim 21 , being further configured to:
 identify the indication by identifying a predetermined Quality of Service (QoS) associated with the data service. 
 
   
   
     30. The PDSN of  claim 21 , wherein the always-on connection comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session and the data service comprises an e-mail communication service which is utilized by the mobile station without use of PPP compression on the data.